Fluid distribution device having improved deviating means

ABSTRACT

A fluid distribution system comprised of an inlet duct ( 1 ) and two outlet ducts ( 6  and  7 ) including deviating means for directing the inlet flow into one or the other outlet ducts ( 6  and  7 ) composed of a mobile wall ( 2 ) suitable for making the flow adhere to the walls of one duct or the other due to the Coanda effect. In a first position, the mobile wall ( 2 ) is incorporated into the side wall ( 3 ) of the inlet conduct ( 1 ) that extends into one of the two outlet ducts. From this position, the mobile wall ( 2 ) can be moved to a second position where its upstream end protrudes inside the duct to create a step-like irregularity ( 4 ) on the duct&#39;s internal surface.

TEXT OF DESCRIPTION

[0001] The present invention refers to fluid distribution devices of thetype having an inlet duct that receives a fluid, two outlet ducts anddeviating means for distributing the flow passing through the inlet ductbetween the two outlet ducts. The field of application to which theinvention refers is generic, both with reference to the type of fluid(liquid or gaseous) and with reference to the system in which thedistribution device is installed. Purely by way of example, the systemsfor distributing conditioned air in buildings or motor vehicles can beconsidered.

[0002] The Applicant has already proposed an air distribution deviceincluding Coanda-effect deviating means in Italian patent applicationT02001A000223, filed on Mar. 12, 2001 and still secret at the date offiling this application. A motor vehicle dashboard incorporating thisdevice also forms the subject of a further pending application by thesame Applicant.

[0003] The object of this invention is that of providing a device of theinitially indicated type equipped with improved deviating means, whichare advantageous from the viewpoints of simplicity and functionality.

[0004] In order to achieve this objective, the object of the inventionis a fluid distribution device of the above-specified type,characterized by the fact that the said deviating means include a mobilewall suitable for controlling the deviation of the flow, which adheresto the walls due to the Coanda effect, the said mobile wall beingmoveable between a first position, in which it is incorporated in a sidewall of the said inlet duct that extends to form a wall of the first ofthe said outlet ducts, such that the entire flow is made to adhere to itdue to the Coanda effect, and is thus directed into the said firstoutlet duct, and a second position where the upstream end (with respectto direction of the flow) of the said mobile wall protrudes inside theduct to form an irregularity on the internal surface of the said sidewall, provoking the separation of the flow from the said surface and itsadherence to the second outlet duct, always due to the Coanda effect,resulting in its consequent deviation.

[0005] The invention will now be described with reference to theenclosed drawings, supplied purely by way of a non-limitative example,where:

[0006]FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic views of the deviating means inaccordance with the invention in their two different operating states,which illustrate the invention's principle of operation,

[0007]FIG. 3 is schematic view of a distribution device in accordancewith the invention, and

[0008] FIGS. 4-6 schematically illustrate three different forms ofembodiment of the means of controlling the mobile wall forming part ofthe device in accordance with the invention.

[0009] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the direction of the flow F of afluid (liquid or gaseous) arriving from an inlet duct 1 is controlled todirect the flow F towards two different outlet ducts (not visible inFIGS. 1 and 2). For this purpose, the device in accordance with theinvention includes a mobile wall 2 that is incorporated into a side wall3 that delimits the inlet duct 1 and which extends to form a side wallof one of the two outlet ducts.

[0010] The mobile wall 2 can be moved between a first position,illustrated in FIG. 1, in which it is flush with the wall 3, and asecond position (illustrated in FIG. 2) where it creates a step-likeirregularity 4 on the internal surface of the wall 3. In the firstposition, the output flow from the inlet duct 1 tends to remain inadherence to the wall 2, following the curve. In the second operatingcondition (FIG. 2), the irregularity 4 creates a separation of the flowF from the wall 3 and its deviation, which causes it to adhere to theopposite wall 5 that runs into the second outlet duct (not shown inFIGS. 1 and 2).

[0011] By way of example, FIG. 3 illustrates a section of thedistribution device including an inlet duct 1 and the two outlet ducts 6and 7, with the mobile wall 2 consisting of a cut-into portion of thewall 3, which runs into the side wall 6 a of the first outlet duct 6.

[0012]FIG. 4 illustrates a first example of control device for the wall2. In this case, the wall 2 is composed of an elastic element that tendsto remain in its first operating position, illustrated in FIG. 4, i.e.in the position where the wall 2 is flush with the wall 3. From thisposition, the wall 2 can be elastically deformed in order to create astep 4 following the engagement of a rotating cam 8 controlled by anytype of motorized means.

[0013]FIG. 5 illustrates a variant in which the wall 2 is still composedof an elastic element, but which instead tends to remain in the straightposition shown in FIG. 5, where it creates the step-like irregularity 4between the wall 3 and the wall 2. Starting from this condition, thewall 2 can be elastically deformed to bring it into the positionillustrated by the dashed line, flush with the wall 3, via the tractionapplied by a shape memorizing wire 9 that runs between the ends of thewall 2 and engages a return roller 10 of a support 11 with a curvedsurface 12 against which the wall 2 rests when in the deformedcondition. The shape memorizing wire 9 is made using any type of shapememorizing alloy that permits it to become shorter after the temperatureincreases beyond a predetermined transition value. Heating can beachieved via the Joule effect, by passing an electric current throughthe wire.

[0014]FIG. 6 illustrates a similar solution to that in FIG. 5, but wherea thin sheet of a shape-memorizing alloy is buried inside an elasticwall 2. In the non-deformed condition (dashed line) the wall forms thestep 4, while when its temperature exceeds a predetermined thresholdvalue, the sheet deforms until it reaches the position shown with acontinuous line. Heating is obtained by passing an electric currentthrough a PTC heating element 15.

[0015] As already indicated above, the device in accordance with theinvention is of general applicability. A non-limitative example ofapplication is that of air distribution systems in buildings orair-conditioning distribution systems in motor vehicles.

[0016] From the previous description, it is clearly evident that in thedevice described by the invention, the flow always adheres to one or theother ducts due to the Coanda effect. The preference of adhering to oneduct rather than the other is controlled by the position assumed by themobile wall; in reality, the mobile wall disturbs the zone in which adepression bubble is created when the surface of the duct 6 isuninterrupted.

[0017] Naturally, the principle of the invention being understood, theconstructional details and forms of embodiment could be extensivelychanged with respect to that described and illustrated by way of examplewithout leaving the scope of this invention.

1. A fluid distribution device, having an inlet duct (1) that receives afluid flow, two outlet ducts (6 and 7) and deviating means (2) fordistributing the flow passing through the inlet duct (1) between the twooutlet ducts (6 and 7), characterized by the fact that the saiddeviating means (2) include a mobile wall suitable for controlling thedeviation of the flow, which adheres to one or the other duct due to theCoanda effect, the said mobile wall (2) being moveable between a firstposition, in which it is incorporated in the side wall (3) of the saidinlet duct (1) that extends into the first of the said outlet ducts (6),causing the entire flow to be directed into the said first outlet duct(6), and a second position, in which the upstream end (with respect todirection of the flow) of the said mobile wall (2) protrudes inside theduct to form an irregularity (4) on the internal surface of the saidside wall (3), provoking the separation of the flow from the saidsurface and its adherence to the second outlet duct (7), resulting inits deviation.
 2. A device according to claim 1, characterized by thefact that the said mobile wall (2) forms a step on the internal surfaceof the duct when it is in the aforementioned position.
 3. A deviceaccording to claim 1, characterized by the fact that starting from itssaid first position, the said mobile wall (2) is elastically deformableto the said second position via a means of control (8).
 4. A deviceaccording to claim 1, characterized by the fact that starting from itssaid second position, the said mobile wall (2) is elastically deformableto the said first position via a means of control (9 and 2).
 5. A deviceaccording to claim 4, characterized by the fact that the said means ofcontrol include a shape memorizing wire (9), which can be heated by thepassage of an electric current to cause its contraction, the said wire(9) being connected to the said mobile wall (2) in a manner toelastically deform it towards its said first position followingcontraction of the wire (9).
 6. A device according to claim 4,characterized by the fact that the said means of control include a shapememorizing sheet buried inside the mobile wall (2) and that it isconnected to the terminals (13 and 14) to pass an electric currentthrough the sheet for the purposes of heating it via the Joule effectand thus elastically deforming the wall from its second position to itsfirst position due to the shape memorizing effect of the sheet.
 7. Adevice according to claim 6, characterized by the fact that one of thesaid the terminals (13 and 14) is associated with a PTC element (15) forheating the shape memorizing sheet.
 8. An air distribution system,characterized by the fact that it incorporates a device in accordancewith one or more of the previous claims.
 9. A motor vehicleincorporating an air distribution system device in accordance with theprevious claim. The whole is substantially as described and illustratedand for the specified purposes.